Tag: Safety

Heat Safety

On By Western Mutual BlogIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

This summer has broken records for how abnormally hot it has been! Whether you are male or female, young or older, have preexisting health conditions or not, heat stroke is not something to take lightly. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), extreme heat causes more deaths than hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, earthquakes and floods combined! Perhaps now is the time to brush up on some ways to stay cool this summer!

Please make yourself aware of the list below:

  • If at all possible, remain indoors during the peak heat hours of the day (10AM-2PM) in air-conditioned rooms
  • Avoid direct sunlight by wearing sunscreen and/or layered clothing to avoid direct contact with your skin
  • Take cooler showers and drink more water than usual
  • Remain vigilant to anticipate when extreme heat waves will strike your area
  • Be watchful of symptoms of heat illnesses
  • Make sure elderly family, friends and neighbors are safe in this extreme weather

What are some ways you beat the heat? Please share them below!

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Summer BBQ Ideas

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Grilling season has officially commenced!  Longer summer days bring many more opportunities for us to dine alfresco! Do you and your family have any barbecue favorites to grill this season? Before you host your next backyard soiree, review the infographic below which shares some best safety practices for the season ahead.

Do you have some go-to BBQ recipes? Please share them with us below!

BBQ-Safety-Infographic_6.25.18

 

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Swim Safety

On By Western Mutual BlogIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

The weather has been fabulous and the water is heating up making it more inviting for some swims! Do you and your family know and practice swim safety at home and at the beach? We recommend you review some suggestions below and add them to your swim safety repertoire:

  • Fence in your pool or pond areas to avoid potential water accidents
  • Tidy pool areas of toys as children can find them tempting and enter the water unattended
  • To combat Mosquitos breeding around your home, clean out standing water weekly in such areas as fountains, bird feeders and planters
  • Maintain a buddy system when swimming in the ocean or pool
  • Children and individuals who cannot swim should wear life jackets or a flotation device
  • Do not swim when intoxicated as anyone can drown in even an inch of water
  • Avoid glassware around the pool or ocean where shards can break and cut bare feet
  • Enforce no running around pools as people can slip on wet surfaces and get injured
  • Keep your CPR certification up-to-date (Click here to see available CPS classes provided by the Red Cross)
  • Take swim lessons (Click here to see available swim classes provided by the Red Cross in your areas)

Do you have any swim safety rules in your home? Please share below!

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Backyard Safety

On By Western Mutual BlogIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

As summer quickly approaches, now is the time to freshen up on some backyard safety tips. Whether you have a backyard, gated entrance or front porch, it is wise to make sure you and your family are secure and safe every season! Locking pet doors at night to thwart unwanted animals from your home is a wise move if you have younger children in the home and reside in areas with coyotes. Putting gates around pool or bodies of water is a must to prevent young children or pets from falling into the water while unattended.

Have you noticed new plant life in your garden? Make sure your yard is free of any poisonous plants that can be consumed or cause skin irritation. Before cleaning up or mowing lawns, ensure rocks and debris are free from the area to avoid unnecessary injuries. Springtime brings new life to yards and extends your outdoor time but make sure to safely store chemicals and fertilizer out of reach of children. Notice dips in concrete and warped wood floors outside? Take time to level these areas in the hope of preventing potential tripping or personal injury.

Check back here for more summer safety tips!

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Dog Bite Prevention Week 🐶

On By Western Mutual BlogIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

​This week marks National Dog Bite Prevention Week and is dedicated to educating people on how to prevent it from happening. Dogs are lovable furry friends but it is important to know how to conduct yourself around them or an unfamiliar pup. There are many ways to prevent negative encounters with dogs and we would like to share a few with you:

• Be polite and never approach an unfamiliar dog—especially one who is tied up or confined behind a fence or a yard—as they might see you as a threat or intruder
• Do not pet a dog without letting them see and sniff you first
• Do not disturb a dog while they are sleeping, eating, chewing on a toy or caring for puppies

Also, it is important to be aware of a dog’s body language. A pup who is backing away from you, has his or her ears pulled back, teeth drawn and/or is growling is not one to pet. Make sure you put a safe amount of space between yourself and a dog if you notice these signals which indicate a dog is uncomfortable and feeling threatened. Sometimes small children do not know any better and are often the victim of these unfortunate events. Make sure to educate your family on how to properly interact with furry friends in order to prevent them from occurring.

*Dog bite prevention tips were found on the website of the Humane Society of the United States.